Welding apparatus



Aug. l1,v 1931K.

J. A. BAKER WELDING APPARATUS Filed may 23, 1927 3 sheets-sheet 1aumento@ l/ l l l l l l I Il.

Aug 11, 19M J. A. BAKER WELDING APPARATUS Filed may 2s, 1927 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 11, 1931. J. A. BAKER 1,818,665

WELD'ING APPARATUS Filed Mayas, 1927 :s sheets-sheet s Patented Aug. ll,1931 UNITED STATES 'I llaais- PATENT OFFICE Josnrn A. Bexar., ornosnvnnn,l MICHIGAN, assieme. BY MnsNn ASSIGNMENTS, Y 'ro cnarsnmconronarron, A coaronarroN or DELAWARE y WELDING APPARATUS Applicationdlled May 23, 1927. Serial No. 193,668.

This application relates generally to welding apparatus and has for anobject the provision of an apparatus capable of being moved aboutthe-work to be welded. 'Another Objectis to providean apparatus capableof belno' handled by one person.

With the above and other objects in view Atheinvention consists incertain novel fea- -tures of construction, combinations and arrangementsof parts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a welding l5 alpparatus embodying myinvention and s owing parts bro en awa Figure 2 is a lon itu inalvertical sectional view through t e construction shown in Figure 1. l

Figure 3 is a detailed view of one Aof the copper arms. l d Figure 4 isa detailed view of the air cyliner. 'i

Figure 5- is an end elevation of the con- 25 struction shown in Fi re 4.

Figure 6 is a detal ed view of a switch.

bracket.

- Figure 7 is a detailed plan view of one of the hinge brackets. 4:oFigure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7. v

Figure 9 is a detailed 4view of the cooperating hinge bracket.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a detailed view of the actuatin fork 28.

-eferring now to the drawings, 1 and 2 respectively are forwardlconverging welding electrodes, and` 3 an 4 respectively are hingedlyconnected supporting arms therefor. Asshown, the electrodes 1 and 2extend through suitable bores 5' and 6 in the arms 3 and 4 and are heldfirml therein by means of suitable clamps 7 an 8. -The forward ends orwelding points 9 and 10 respectively of the" electrodes are normally saced slightly apart as shown in Figure 1 an are adapted to be movedtoward each other to engage 1n 5 the work. The arms 3 and 4 arepreferably be reciprocated in the cylinder b formed of co per and carryat their rear ends substantially L-shaped tubular fittings 11 and 12respectively to which the secondar cables are attached and through whichcoo ing water is circulated. Preferably this water flows from thefitting 11 through tube 13 in the arm 3 to the forward end of thelongitudinally extending passage 14 therein, thence rearwardly in thepassage 14 in the arm and out through a hose 15 to the rear end of theelectrode 2. Then the Water flows through a tube 16 in the electrodetube to a point adjacent to the welding point 9 thereof, thencerearwardly in the longitudinally extendn passage 17 in the electrode 2and out throug a hose 18 to the electrode 1 on the other side of theWelder. After leaving the hose 18 the water fiows in a reverse directionthrough the electrode 1, hose .19, arm 4 and fitting 12.

Connecting the arms 3 and 4 adjacent to their rearends are two togglebars 20 and 21 which are adapted to be actuated by air operatedgmeansfor swinging the arms 3 and 4 about their pivot 2 to cause the weldinpoints 9 and 10 of the electrodes to be move to and from the work.

As shown, the actuating means for the toggle bars comprises a piston 21that reciprocates in a cylinder 22 extending longitudinally of themedian line of the cylin er between the arms 3 and 4, and is adapted toair supplied to the cylinder 22 throug rt 23 and 23 at opposite endsthereof.. referably the passage of air from a suitable source' (notshown) through the port 23 and 23 into the cylinder 22 is controlled bya rotary valve 24r that is adapted to be actuated manually by a suitablelever 25. As shown, the valve 24 is mounted in a suitable chamber 26 atone side of the cylinder 22 and has a forward extension 27 carrying afork 28 that is engaged by a foot portion 29 of the lever 25. This leveris pivoted on a pin 30 carried by an upstanding lug 31 of the cylinder22. Normally. the port 23 .in rear of the piston is open so that thepiston is maintained in its forward position, however when the lever 25is depressed the foot portion 29 100 will cause the fork 28 to rock andthereby rotate the lvalve 24 so as to close the port 23 and allow airunder pressuietov enterv the vcylinder 22 in advance of the vpiston 21.

This will cause the lpiston to' move `rearwardly so that the electrodepoints will pinch together the work to be welded.

' To determine the pressure that will be exerted by the welding pointswhen the piston in the air cylinder has completed its stroke,

I have provided a coil spring'31 thatis' against the verticalintermediate ortion o a primary switch bracket 36. referably this racket36 has vertically spaced substantially parallel arms 37 and 38projecting forwardly from the upper and lower ends of the intermediateportion 35 and has a substantially horizontal arm 39 projectingrearwardly lfrom the lower end of the intermediate portion 35. In thepresent instance the forward arms 37 and 38 are'provided at theirforward ends with vertical lugs 40 and 41 respectively `that constituteintermediate pivots for the toggle bars 20 and 21, while the rearwardarm 39 constitutes a support for a suitable primary switch 42.Preferably this switch is held by suitable clamp 43 that is insulated bythe block 44 from the arm 39. vIf desired, a substantially' L-shapedplate 45 maybe secured tothe rearward arm 39 to serve as a guard for theswitch.

With this construction the switch"'42 is actuated automatically by thepiston rod 32. As shown, the switch 42 has a forwardly pro.- jecting rod46 that is received in and slidabl engaged by a tubular housing orvsleeve 4 that in turn i's slidably mounted in the interc mediate portion35 of the switch bracket and has a depending projection 48 at its rearend secured to the piston rod 32. A plug 49A is anchored in the forwardend ofthe tubular housing 47, and a light coil spring 50 is located inthe housing 47 between the plug 49 and the forward end of the switch rodor plunger 46..

Thus 'when the port 23 is opened 'by the valve 24, the piston rod 32will be moved rearwardly and will carry with it the tubular housing 47.This movement of the housing then causes the coil spring 50 to becompressed until the force exerted by it is sufcient to overcome aspring (not shown) inside of the switch 42. When this occurs, the

switch is closed and the current is allowed lto flow throughthe primaryof the welding transformer, the secondary current of course fiowingsimultaneously through the electrodes 1 and 2. However as soon as theoperator releases the lever 25,l the same will be returned to its`normally raised position by means of a spring 25 and the port 23will beclosed while the port 23 will be opened; hence air admitted to thecylinder 22 in rear of the piston 21 will instantly return the pistonand rod 32 to normal position. This forward movement of the piston 21and rod 32 releases the spring 50 and the pressure exerted thereby onthe primary switch rod 46, hence the switch 42 opens immediately. Withthis construction the point at which the switch 42 closes can beregulated by adjusting the plug 49 in the tubular housing 47.

Referring to Figures 7 to 10, the numerals 51 and 52 designatecooperating hinge brackets, the former being carried by the arm 3 andthe latter by the arm 4. The

bracket 51 is provided with a pair of spaced' apertured rings 53 betweenwhich the ring 54 of the bracket 52 is adapted to be positioned so thatall of the apertures will be in alignment 4for receiving the hinge bolt2', this bolt constituting the pivot about which the Welding points 9and 10 swing.

`As shown, the Welder is too heavy to be carried about easily and isordinarily suspended by a cable running over` pulleys and provided witha counter weight. However, it

is light enough to be moved easily from one pointv to another of,forinstance, an automobile body and it can be operated entirely by oneman. At the Sametime itis designed to have sufiicient pressure t'o pinchthe parts to be welded firmly together so that satisfactory welds areobtained. Ofwing to the way .in which the controls are arranged, theoperator requires only one thumb to operate the vvalve and is able tohold -the machine firmly by'two handles such as 60, oneof which isprovided on each side of the Welder. The machine is4 remarkably powerfulfor its weight and size and takes the place of massive kspot weldingmachines formerly used for the limit myself to what is hereinshown andde scribed and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fallwithin .the'scope of what is claimed.

lWhat IY claim as my invention is:

1. In a welding apparatus, a pair of welding electrodes arranged to'co-operate with switch including vmeansextending betweensaid sup- .tionbetween sai porting members and lactuablev by said firstv mentionedactuating' means.

l, 3. In a welding apparatus, a movable weldingelectrode` support, areciplrocatin rod movable in a plane substantia y para el to said]electrode support, an operating connecelectrode support and rod, anelectric switch in substantial alignment with Said rod, and means forconnecting said cylinder, a togglellnka and pivotally connec wherebyrecipmcatl switch to said rod for actuationthereby.

4. In a welding ap ratus, a pair of pivot- `ally mounted electro esupportlng members,

a reciprocating rod between said supporting members, an operatingconnection between said rod and members, an electric switch insubstantial alignment with said rod, and means for connecting'said rodand switch whereby said switch will be automatically actuated uponreciprocation of said rod.

5. In an electric welding apparatus, a pair of substantially parallelarms,means pivotally connecting said arms adjacent thelr forward ends,electrodes carried by the forward Aends of 'said arms, a cylinderarranged between'said'arms with its axis paral'le to the axes of thearms, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder and having a rod movabletherewith and extending rearwardly beyond the to said arms adjacent therear endsthereoff, means operatively connecting said togglelinkage tosaid rod )ofisai'd rod will limpart v'id-arms for moving A fengagementwit witch'arranged adjapivotal movemen the electrodesinto the work, anelec cent the path of travel of said rod and adapted to control-thecircuit to said electrodes, and f means for establishing a connectionbetween said rod and switch operative u on reciproca?" tion of said rodto automatical y actuatesazid` switch.

6. In an electric weldingappliil'allliliil"l of substantiallyparallelai'ms having t elr ,forward ends pivotally connected, electrodes`carried by the forward ends of-said arms, a

cylinder positioned between said arms with its axis arranged parallel tot-heaxes ofsaid larms, a iston reciprocable in said cylinder fandhavlnga rod movable therewith and extending rearwardly beyond .the cylinder,an

:,eraees toggle links havin their outer en a y arms adjacent the reararranged between abutment upon ABitid pistonrod, a toggle link- ",agearranged between and pivotally secured to said arms adjacent the'rearends thereof a switch bracket slidably mounted upon e free'end of saidpiston rod and havin means 70 le linkage, a spring surrounding said rodand interposed between said abutment and bracket, an electric switchcarried by said bracket and adapted to control the circuit to saidelectrodes, and means for automatically ac tltilg said switchuponreciprocation of sai forming the intermediate pivot of sai A togg 7. Inv an electric welding apparatus, a airof substantially parallel armshaving eir forward ends pivotally connected, electrodes carried by theforward ends of said arms, a cylinder positioned between said arms withits axis arranged parallel to the axes of said arms, a istonreciprocable in said cylinder and having a rod movable therewith andextending rearwardly beyond the eylinder, an

abutment upon said piston ro secured to sai endsthereof, a combinedconnectin and bracket member provided with a su stan- (pairs of spivottially U-shaped forwardly extending portion having its armsterminatlngin oppositely directed pivot elements adapted to pivotallyconnect the inner ends of said toggle links, a coiled compression springencire ing said rod and interposed between said abutment and the base ofsaid U-shaped portion, said combined connecting and bracket memberbeing'provided with a rearward eXtensionan electric switch secured tosaid rearward extension, and meansfor automatically actuatir said switchupon reciprocation of s'aidr A 8. In an electric welding apparatus, apair of substantially parallel arms, electrodes carried by said armsadjacent their :forwardv ends, a cylinder arranged between said arms,

and means for pivotally connecting the forward ends of said arms to saidcylinder, and operating -means for. causing pivotal movement of saidarms to move the electrodes intoand out of pressure engagement with thework comprising a piston reciprocable insaid cylinder andhaving a rodmovable therewith and extendin rearwardly beyond the cylinder, a pair otoggle links having their outer ends pivoted upon said arms adjacent therear ends thereof, a connecting member slidable upon the free end ofsaid piston and hav- `ving means pivotally connecting the inner ends ofsaid arms, an abutment upon said piston rod, and a lcoiled compressionspring surrounding said rod and interposed between said connectingmember and said abutment.

9. In an electric welding apparatus, a pair of substantially parallelarms, electrodes carried, by said ,arms adjacent their forward ends, acylinder arranged betweenv said armskllu' no I and means for pivotallyconnecting the forward ends of said arms to said cylinder, and operatingmeans for causing pivotal movement of said arms to move the electrodesinto and out of pressure engagement with the work comprising a pistonreciprocable in said c lnder and 'having a rod movable therewith andextending rearwardly beyond the cylinder, a pair of toggle links havingthelr outer ends pivoted upon said arms adjacent the rear ends thereof,a connecting member slidable upon the free end of said piston and havingmeans pivotally connecting the inner ends of said links, an abutmentupon said piston rod, and a coiled compression spring surrounding saidrod and interposed between said connecting member and said abutment,said abutment being adjustable to vary the compression of said spring.

10. In an electric welding apparatus, a pair of substantially parallelarms, electrodes carried by the forward ends of said arms, a cyl- Yinder arranged between saidl arms and having a forward extension, meanspivotally connecting said extension and the forward ends of said arms, apiston reciprocable in said cylinder and having a rod movable therewithand extending rearwardly beyond the cylinder, a toggle linkage arrangedbetween and pivotally connected to the arms adjacent the rear endsthereof, and means operativelyconnecting said toggle linkage to said rodwhereby reciprocation of said rod will impart pivotal movement to saidarms for movlng the electrodes into or out of pressure -engagement withthe work;

11. In an electric welding apparatus, a pair of substantially parallelarms, electrodes carried by the forward ends of said arms, a fluidcylinder arranged between said arms and having a forward extension,means pivotally connecting said extension and thefforward ends of saidarms, a piston .reciprocable in said cylinder and having a rod movabletherey A rearwardly beyond the with and extendin cylinder, a togglelinkage arranged between and connected to the arms adjacent the rearends thereof, means operatively connecting said toggle linkage to saidrod whereby reciprocatlon of said rod will impart pivotal movement tosaid arms for moving the elec-- trodes into or out of pressureengagement with the work, and means upon said piston rod for varying thepressure exerted by the electrodes upon the work.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

. JosEPHA. BAKER.

